Georgia Nurses Association Scholarships

The Georgia Nurses Foundation awards academic scholarships to qualifying applicants seeking to advance their nursing education.

These include:

• The Katherine Pope Scholarship - For non-registered nurse students seeking a baccalaureate degree in Nursing.
• The Annie Lou Overton Scholarship - For registered nurses seeking a baccalaureate degree in Nursing.
• The Sam and Irene Mazacoufa Undergraduate Scholarship - For students seeking a bachelor's degree in Nursing.
• The Sam and Irene Mazacoufa Graduate Scholarship - For students seeking a master's or doctoral degree in Nursing.
• The Kathryn Suggs Chance Leonard Scholarship - For students seeking a master's or doctoral degree in Nursing.

Katherine Pope Scholarship 2025

With a nursing career spanning 45 years, Katherine Pope dedicated her life to the profession of nursing. She has been described as "the ideal nurse: a selfless, genuine caregiver who puts the needs of others ahead of her own.” Ms. Pope believed that nursing enabled her to best serve her country, her fellow human beings, and the community. The Katherine Pope Scholarship demonstrates the impact nursing can make to healthcare and to the community and extends Ms. Pope's commitment to the career advancement of nurses.

A nursing leader, beloved friend, and respected colleague, Katherine Pope has always encouraged others to be their best. This scholarship in her name acknowledges future nursing leaders who are committed to excellence in their field and to the care of those in need.

This scholarship will be awarded to non-registered nurse students seeking a baccalaureate degree in Nursing.

Qualifications

Applicants MUST:

• Be a non-registered nurse student seeking a baccalaureate degree in Nursing.
• Be enrolled in an accredited nursing program in Georgia.
• Have successfully completed at least two nursing clinicals.
• Provide a letter from the dean or director of the nursing program confirming that the program is accredited.
• Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
• Be a resident of Georgia AND provide a copy of their current Georgia Driver’s License.
• Provide OFFICIAL academic transcript sent from the current academic institution.
• Provide two recommendations from nursing faculty or clinical supervisor.

Priority will be given to applicants who:

• Plan to practice professional nursing in Georgia post-graduation.
• Are members of respective professional associations (e.g., Georgia Association of Nursing Students, etc.).
• Provide proof of membership in a professional association (i.e., copy of membership card).

Annie Lou Overton Scholarship 2025

Annie Lou Overton served as executive director of the Georgia Nurses Association for several years. For her time, she was very liberal and determined to build a strong Georgia Nurses Association. Today, Annie Lou Overton's convictions remain alive through the students honored with a scholarship in her name. Funding for this scholarship was willed to the Georgia Nurses Association by Annie Lou Overton to ensure nursing students have every opportunity to realize their potential. And, through their education and professional growth, impact the nursing profession and the world in which we live.

This scholarship will be awarded to a registered nurse seeking a baccalaureate degree in Nursing.

GNA and GNF Board members are not eligible to apply.

Qualifications

Applicant must:

• Be a registered nurse seeking a baccalaureate degree in Nursing.
• Be enrolled in an accredited nursing program in Georgia.
• Provide a letter from the dean or director of the nursing program confirming that the program is accredited.
• Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
• Be a resident of Georgia AND provide a copy of their current Georgia Driver’s License.
• Provide a copy of Nursing License number.
• Provide OFFICIAL academic transcript sent from the current academic institution.
• Have two recommendations from nursing faculty or clinical supervisor.

Priority will be given to applicants who:

• Plan to practice professional nursing in Georgia post-graduation.
• Are members of respective nursing professional associations (e.g., Georgia Nurses Association, Georgia Association of Nursing Students, etc.).
• Provide proof of membership in a professional association (i.e., copy of membership card).

Sam and Irene Mazacoufa Scholarship-Undergraduate 2025

The scholarship is named in memory of Demetrius’ parents, Irene and Sam Mazacoufa, and was established to honor his parents whose hard work and love of learning enabled Demetrius to obtain the education he enjoyed during his lifetime. We celebrate the legacy of his support of GNA and nursing student education.

Funding for this scholarship was willed to GNA by Demetrius Mazacoufa to provide academic scholarships to an undergraduate and/or graduate student studying nursing in an institution of higher learning within the state of Georgia

Qualifications

This scholarship will be awarded to a student seeking an undergraduate nursing degree (e.g., bachelor’s degree in nursing).

Applicant must:

• Be a non-registered nurse student seeking a baccalaureate degree in Nursing.
• Be enrolled in an accredited nursing program in Georgia.
• Have successfully completed at least two nursing clinicals.
• Provide a letter from the dean or director of the nursing program confirming that the program is accredited.
• Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
• Be a resident of Georgia AND provide a copy of their current Georgia Driver’s License.
• Provide OFFICIAL academic transcript sent from the current academic institution.
• Provide two recommendations from nursing faculty or clinical supervisor.

Priority will be given to applicants who:

• Plan to practice professional nursing in Georgia post-graduation.
• Are members of respective professional associations (e.g., Georgia Association of Nursing Students, etc.).
• Provide proof of membership in a professional association (i.e., copy of membership card).

Sam and Irene Mazacoufa Scholarship-Graduate 2025

The scholarship is named in memory of Demetrius’ parents, Irene and Sam Mazacoufa, and was established to honor his parents whose hard work and love of learning enabled Demetrius to obtain the education he enjoyed during his lifetime. We celebrate the legacy of his support of GNA and nursing student education.

Qualifications

This scholarship will be awarded to a student seeking a graduate nursing degree (e.g., master or doctoral degree in nursing).

• Be a student seeking a master’s or doctoral degree in Nursing.
• Be enrolled in an accredited master’s or doctorate nursing program in Georgia.
• Provide a letter from the dean or director of the nursing program confirming that the program is accredited.
• Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Be a resident of Georgia AND provide a copy of their Georgia Driver’s License.
• Provide a copy of Nursing License number (if applicable).
• Provide OFFICIAL academic transcript sent from the current academic institution.
• Provide two recommendations from nursing faculty or clinical supervisor
• Plan to practice professional nursing in Georgia post-graduation.
• Are members of respective nursing professional associations (e.g., Georgia Nurses Association, Georgia Association of Nursing Students, etc.).
• Provide proof of membership in a nursing professional association (i.e., copy of membership card).

Priority will be given to applicants who:

• Plan to practice professional nursing in Georgia post-graduation.
• Are members of respective nursing professional associations (e.g., Georgia Nurses Association, Georgia Association of Nursing Students, etc.).
• Provide proof of membership in a nursing professional association (i.e., copy of membership card).

Kathryn Suggs Chance Leonard Scholarship 2025

Kathryn Suggs Chance Leonard was the youngest person to serve as president of the Georgia Nurses Association. Diagnosed at age 16 with Lupus, Kathryn decided she had a lot of living to pack into the time allotted to her. And live she did. Kathryn used the news of her diagnosis to begin, what would be for her, the lifelong practice of converting life’s obstacles and barriers into a wide range of opportunities.

Always a forward thinker, Kathryn worked in a variety of nursing settings. She obtained her doctorate in nursing, married and had a daughter, and completed her professional career as director of graduate programs at Georgia State University School of Nursing. Kathryn consistently advocated for the advancement of nurses and nursing. Through her roles as teacher, advocate, leader, and colleague, she had a profound and lasting impact on the nursing profession as a whole. Dr. Chance Leonard was in every sense of the word, a truly remarkable woman.

Qualifications

• Be a student seeking a master’s or doctoral degree in Nursing.
• Be enrolled in an accredited master’s or doctorate nursing program in Georgia.
• Provide a letter from the dean or director of the nursing program confirming that the program is accredited.
• Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Be a resident of Georgia AND provide a copy of their Georgia Driver’s License.
• Provide a copy of Nursing License number (if applicable).
• Provide OFFICIAL academic transcript sent from the current academic institution.
• Provide two recommendations from nursing faculty or clinical supervisor.
• Plan to practice professional nursing in Georgia post-graduation.
• Are members of respective nursing professional associations (e.g., Georgia Nurses Association, Georgia Association of Nursing Students, etc.).
• Provide proof of membership in a nursing professional association (i.e., copy of membership card).